India’s Ele Animations Pvt. Ltd. is adapting its Pogo channel animated series “Jay Jagannath” into a theatrical feature film, “Mahaprabhu Jagannath,” set for a pan-India theatrical release across more than 300 screens in Hindi, Odia and Telugu through a distribution agreement with Cinepolis.
Lord Jagannath, a form of Hindu God Vishnu venerated across Odisha and widely worshipped throughout India, is the presiding deity of the 12th-century Puri temple and the subject of the annual Rath Yatra chariot festival, one of the country’s largest religious gatherings.
The Bhubaneswar-based studio is framing the film as the opening chapter of its newly announced Sanatan Universe, an interconnected content franchise built around Indian devotional and mythological storytelling. Plans for the ecosystem extend beyond cinema to television, music, education and immersive experience venues in Puri, with a dedicated devotional music label and a live-stream channel from the Puri Jagannath Temple also in development.
“Our journey began with a vision to bring the divine stories of Mahaprabhu Jagannath to every household through animation. After seeing the overwhelming love our series received, taking this to the big screen was the natural next step. This film is not just about entertainment; it’s about passing on our rich heritage and values to the next generation in a way that is fun, engaging, and visually stunning,” said Durga Prasad Dalai, founder, director, and creative head of Ele.
Ele Animations has a further cinematic project in the pipeline for the next Rath Yatra cycle. Its upcoming slate on Hindu Gods and Goddesses includes “Mere Bhole,” an animated children’s series centered on Lord Shiva, with additional projects planned around Lord Hanuman, Lord Ganesha, Goddess Kali and Goddess Durga. The studio also intends to develop content drawn from the Vedas and Upanishads for younger audiences.
“But ‘Mahaprabhu Jagannath’ is just the first chapter. It lays the cornerstone for our grander vision: the Sanatan Universe. We are building an interconnected cultural ecosystem that goes far beyond cinema, spanning TV, music, education, and even immersive experience destinations in Puri. By leveraging our civilizational memory, we want to position Indian spiritual storytelling as a premium global proposition and education about our deities and culture through the medium of entertainment. We are absolutely thrilled to begin this incredible journey and bring a culturally rooted, magical experience to families across India,” Dalai added.
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